Between March 18th and May 4th Toys R Us customers will be able to make cash donations and learn more about autism; both online and in the stores. Part of the information that will be made available to patrons is the “Ten Toys That Speaks To Autism.” The National Lekotek Center advised Toys R Us on choosing the toys for this list.
When asked about the list, Autism Speaks said “The ten toys selected promote language, creativity and social skills that aid an autistic child’s development. This unique list features toys that children with autism can play with alongside their siblings and friends and also includes early warning signs of autism.”
“Through our ‘Ten Toys That Speak to Autism’ initiative, we are pleased to provide an authoritative resource to help anyone who knows and loves an autistic child. Bringing smiles to all children through the simple act of play is at the very heart of our business, and we are proud to partner with Autism Speaks in its efforts to advocate for the needs of children and families affected by this disorder,” said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO of Toys “R” Us, Inc.
Read the entire press release on the Autism Speaks website.
We have returned from our first family vacation and right now everyone is asleep but me. My daughter is crashed out in bed next to me as she has major anxiety about sleeping in her own room. My son is asleep in bed with his new foam sword and shield and my husband fell asleep on the couch while watching TV. I had the urge to blog so here I am.
We started our vacation at Sea World and the day went really well until “The Dreaded Autism Tantrum.” Even then it didn’t ruin my day or the trip, its just a normal part of life for me. As I looked back through the pictures today I realized just how much fun both of the kiddos had; my daughter was enamored by the dolphins. I can’t wait until she’s six and we can get in the water with them.
On Friday we drove up to Legoland. I didn’t know what to expect from Legoland but we were going because my son really wanted to. We ended up having a great day. My son had two meltdowns but my daughter had none! I ran into a father of a child with autism while waiting to go on the roller coaster with my son. He explained that we could use what is called a disability pass to avoid the lines. I told him I hadn’t brought any medical documentation with me and he said none was needed. So after my son and I got off of the roller coaster we went to guest services and got a pass. I honestly think that made a huge difference in how my daughter handled the day.
This morning we woke up early, hopped in the car, and drove the six hours home. The kids handled the ride home relatively well; at 5 and 3 a six hour car ride isn’t exactly ideal. However I chose that over trying to coordinate two kids and all of their stuff for a flight.
This week will be a busy week for me. Monday is therapy day; both Alex & Ava have appointments with the occupational therapist. This is always a lot of fun for Ava who loves all of the sensory input and it is always a challenge for Alex who doesn’t want the input. I’m always exhausted after therapy from just having to work with Alex to try to get him involved. The therapist is wonderful and we work well with each other and can usually get Alexander to do most of the activities.
Tuesday will be an off day and then Wednesday its back to the psychologist for more tests for Alexander. I have filled out the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS), the BASC-2, and the Vineland-II. I am not sure what tests Alexander will be taking on Wednesday but hopefully we can finish them so we can get the results next week on the 28th.
